June 2015: VSC’s Lead Advocate Discusses Sexual Assault
VSC Interview with Sarah Webb, VSC’s Lead Victim Advocate
Interviewer: Can you introduce yourself?
Sarah Webb: Hi, name is Sarah Webb and I’m the Lead Advocate with the Victim Service Center of Central Florida.
Interviewer: What is your role at VSC?
Sarah Webb: The Victim Service Center is the Certified Rape Crisis Center for both Orange and Osceola Counties. I oversee a team of 6 Advocates who respond to acute sexual assaults in both counties. The team and I also answer the 24-hour sexual assault hotline. We provide case management, crisis management, and intervention. We accompany victims for forensic collection which is commonly known as a rape kit. Additionally, we accompany victims though the criminal justice center, if that’s the path they choose.
Interviewer: As the Certified Rape Crisis Center, are there any trends you are aware of currently?
Sarah Webb: In Summertime, we often see an increase in sexual assault cases. Just last week, we saw an increase of 200% in acute sexual assaults in comparison to last year.
Interviewer: What do you attribute to this alarming trend?
Sarah Webb: We attribute this trend to our efforts to broaden awareness in both Counties and allow victims a trusted place to turn in times of uncertainty.
Interviewer: If someone or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, where can they go for services?
Sarah Webb: We encourage victims to call our crisis hotline. Our hotline number is 407-497-6701. Additionally, they can contact us through our website www.VictimServiceCenter.org. All of our communications are monitored by certified sexual assault counselors. At VSC, healing begins here!
The Victim Service Center of Central Florida is the Certified Rape Crisis for both Orange & Osceola Counties and serves cities within those Counties including: Orlando, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, Lake Nona, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Celebration, East Orlando, Metro West, Ocoee, Oviedo, Pine Hills, Union Park, and Bithlo.
If you would like to see a video of this interview, please go to our YouTube Channel.
